Atlanta Hawks preview by Chase Kuech
1. What can the Atlanta Hawks learn from the 2006-07 season to help them improve their 2007-08 campaign?
Well, hopefully at the very least Atlanta is always learning. While the administration and coaches clearly never learn, hopefully at least the players have. One important thing the team must realize is that Joe Johnson can't be the only scoring option, even at the end of the game. The team needs to learn how to play well without him, so when he's in the game, they're even better. I also think everyone realized just how important Josh Childress is to this team. Injuries can really hurt the chemistry and effort for this young club. Someone is going to need to provide an energetic spark for this team to win.
2. What was the Hawks' best and/or worst move during the offseason, either by free agency, trade, or draft?
The key offseason moves here are easy. Atlanta had the best draft they have had since I've been a fan. Drafting Acie Law IV and Al Horford gives the Hawks a legitimate chance at making the playoffs this season. Law is going to be a fantastic point guard in this league for years to come and Horford will provide the same kind of inside presence as players like Elton Brand and Dwight Howard. He won't bring the same explosiveness and scoring power, but he will be solid defensively and on the boards. The best part is that both of these players are NBA-ready and can come in and win now. The team isn't going to have to wait another 4-5 years like they did with Marvin Williams. Both of these players will come in this season and that will translate into wins.
3. Who is the Most Important Player on the Hawks? The MIP is not necessarily the most talented, but the one that makes the biggest difference in his team doing well each game.
I think Josh Childress is the most important player on this team. With Joe Johnson in, sometimes the team relies too much on him and plays lazy. With Marvin Williams, he hasn't yet learned to step up and take a team on his shoulders. Childress provides lots of intangibles and does all the little things you need to win. Without him the team is just tired and looks overmatched. Yes, Johnson can score, but that doesn't make him the most important.
4. What needs to go right for the Hawks to succeed this coming season?
Obviously every team needs a bit of luck to succeed. If too many players or the wrong players get injured, it will be very difficult for the team to do well. Of course, succeed has many different meanings, but for the purposes of this question we'll assume it means wins. Without a little luck, it's always hard for a team to do what they want to do. Second, Atlanta must continue to improve and get solid coaching. The Hawks are supposed to be a team that continues to rise, but if they do not improve and mesh together as a team, they will continue to just have potential. Marvin Williams especially needs to be one of the most improved on the team, or Atlanta will continue to flounder. Josh Smith, Williams and Johnson need to be the big 3 for the Hawks. The final thing this team needs to succeed is for Law and Horford to come in and contribute right away. Since Atlanta has done nothing in free agency, it is essential for the rookies to come in and play immediately. I would like to see Law starting on opening night next to Johnson. If the starting five is consistently Law, Johnson, Marvin Williams, Smith, Pachulia, this team is going to win a lot of games. Josh Childress, Sheldon Williams and Al Horford will come off the bench to provide a spark.
5. Who are the contenders for the NBA Championship and who do you see taking the title?
Well, unfortunately I can't see any reason why Atlanta would ever be a contender, but they should at least make the playoffs this season. I don't see why the usual suspects shouldn't still be good next year. Gilbert Arenas will make the Washington Wizards good, Dwayne Wade will make the Miami Heat good and LeBron James will make the Cleveland Cavaliers good. As always, the East will be ruled by its superstars. Chauncey Billups will still be good enough to make Detroit the team to beat, and unless the Toronto Raptors can manage to surprise the league two years in a row, expect the Detroit Pistons to make it out of the East.
Although, as always, the team from the East will just be runner-up to whomever comes out of the West, this year being the San Antonio Spurs. What's new, right? Well, what's new is that the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns will at least make things interesting and give people something to watch. I know it's not really going out on a limb, but when was the last time anything in the NBA was?
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